Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-07
GnvciIinS ola Statue.

CITY OF MEXICo, Aug. 3l.-The anniver-
9ary of the fall of the Aztec empire in 1921,
August 13, was duly honored here at the
capital this year by unveiling q fine statue
of the last and most heroic of all the Aztec
rulers. At an early hour the mounted and
foot guards of the city, with several compa.
nies OF soldiers. were marched out in their
holiday costumes to the sound of bands OF
music aud under the most beautiful banners
! the country could produce. 1t was indeed
gay scene, Sth q strong savorng of mod.
eyn military display by the side of a semi.
barbarc spendor handed down from the
DAYS Of the Aztec rulers. At The "Segunda
Glorio;a" in the "Paseo de Ia Reforma," or
the second circle OF the reform drive, the
statue is situated. From here the scene of
the mixed and advancing hosts made a pic
ture never TO be seen but once and never 10
be forgotten. The trumpeters of the Mexi.
can army rode ahead, mounted on black
horses The blast OF hundred bugles and
waving of many banners, with the bright re-
Election of swords, bristling "bayonets, and
polished helmets, epaulettes, buttons, buck
els and badges made picture which for
military display can hardly be surpassed on
this continent. Next came the President
in Il close carriage drawn by two prancing
dapple. gray horses with two livery men in
attendance, and q mounted body-guard rode
before, behind and on either side. The
President is fast driver and his advance
surrounded by his guards all coming in a
gallop reminded us of picture we once
saw representing the Car flying before the
nihilists. Just behind his carriage followed
the ministers of state and members of his
cabinet. On the arrival oftheparty a salute
of twenty guns was fired and the bands
played the national hymn Of Mexico, amid
the "Vives Mexico" of perhaps fifty thou
sand people, On leaving the carriage the
President and party were escorted to large
rostTum covered with canvas and provided
with paintings on the back ground repre-.
senting the twin mountains of Myer Banco
and the volcano of Popocatepetl besides the
chief gods Of the AZtec5 Ia the locality there
were many beautiful floral arches with large
columns and mnarets with little spires,
the whole of which was completely hid with
iiowers from the ground TO the crowning
] points of the tower. Then the entire paseo
leading TO the old castle of Chepultepec
was hung with flags, banners and lined on
either side with guards and adorned with
triu Aphal arches The ceremonies at the statue
consisted of speeches in Spanish and the ancient
language of the Aztccs, besides vocal music by a
choir of small Indian girls and music by more
| than . dozen different bands At the hour ap-
! pointed the President came forward and as
cended the base of the monument, where n
large silver cord, terminating Sith large tin
sci 5asse, swung from the top Of the statue.
This was so arranged with snaps that united
the opening OF the sheet that covered the
statue, so that wnen pulled by Mr.. Diaz the entire
fastenngs were united and the veil fell to the
ground amidst the rising shout of the multitude,
the combined music of all the bands choirs,
trun1pcs and the belching sound of all the cannon
present The Aztecs present threw up their SOM
hrcros. waved their blankets in the cir and
cheered as one Indian in tho ancient language of
their last king. This continued for few mo-
| mentS when the President and party retired, and
the space around the statue was cleared and q
long procession Of Indians filed by the statue,
each placing q wreath or bunch Of flowers on the
base and inches of the monument until the base,
side and all projections were entirely buried with
flowers, and in places more than foot deep This
procession, in q very impressive manner, repre-
sented the Aztecs of to-day and their customs
of long ago. They were clothed in blankets and
wore sandals ana bagGy brooches, and few were
attrcd in leather suits, fringed with cloth and
adorned with dark embroidery down the side
and around the cuffs and collars They carried
DhuucIS, uHS5 VI mcAlCu 6uu louS SohO otOOht
witl feathers, fans and red handkerchiefs tied to
the top. Others had large red blankets on and
were provided with string and wind instruments,
upon which they played many pieces of music
that would have been 3 credit to far moro cul-
tured race.
The statue is nearly fifty feet high, with g base
about thirty feet square. On either side there
arc bronze rcliefs, one of which represents the
surrender Of the king to Cortes; the other the
torture by slow fire to make him tell the hiding
place of his treasures. Besides these there are
images of the war gods of the Aztecs and speci-
mems of their picture. writing and coats of armor
used By the ancient king and the defenders OF
their capital. The whole is crowned by life
size statue of the king, dressed in his war cos
tune, with long spear which he is in tho act Of
hurting at the enemy. In all it is fine work OF
art, aud is about all that now reminds tho Aztecs
of to-day of their ancient kingdom, and its last
and most heroic ruler who governed nation
more powerful and extensive than has since ex'
listed in the land OF the Aztecs. RAMBLER.